Nevin and Taylor top year with IABA awards

JOHN JOE NEVIN and Katie Taylor completed a fantastic season by claiming the top awards at the IABA Annual Awards ceremony at the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel in Dublin last night.

Taylor was celebrating on the double as she was presented with the best boxer award and the International Achievement Award along with the Irish EU squad.

Beijing Olympian Nevin, from the Cavan BC, claimed a historic sixth medal for Ireland at the 2009 World senior Championships in Milan in 2009 and was honoured with the Ann Abette International Achievement Award.

Michael Carruth, a gold medal winner at the 1992 Olympics, was inducted into the IABA Hall of Fame.

Meanwhile Manny Pacquiao will face Ghanaian hardman Joshua Clottey if his showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jnr cannot be resurrected.

Negotiations between the Filipino favourite and pound-for-pound rival Mayweather appear to have broken down irretrievably this week after a mediator was unable to help them reach an agreement for the March 13 Las Vegas super-fight.

The bitter row stems from Mayweather’s insistence upon extra-stringent drug testing – namely the enforcement of blood sampling close to the fight – with WBO welterweight champion Pacquiao launching legal action and all parties conceding the bout is off.

The arguing continued following Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum’s claims the fight is dead in the water with mediator Judge Daniel Weinstein and Mayweather himself having their say.

Mayweather said: “First and foremost, not only do I want to fight Manny Pacquiao, I want to whip him.

“Before the mediation, my team proposed a 14-day, no blood testing window leading up to the fight. But it was rejected.

“I am still proposing the 14-day window but he is still unwilling to agree to it, even though this is obviously a fair compromise on my part.”

In the meantime, Arum has been busy arranging alternative opposition, with former welterweight champion Clottey set to step in.

IABA AWARDS Ann Abette International Achievement Award: John Joe Nevin (Cavan); Senior International Achievement Award: Katie Taylor (Bray) & 2009 EU Team; Schoolboy & Cadet International Achievement Awards: Jason Quigley (Finn Valley), Gary Molloy (Moate), Joe Ward (Moate), Charlie Haggerty (Golden Cobra), Michael Reilly (Drimnagh), Bernard Roe (Dublin Docklands), Victor Medveduic (Tramore), Ger Whitehouse (Bracken); Best Boy Award: Martin Casey (Carlow), Dylan Carr (Ryston); Best Youth: Jason Quigley (Finn Valley); Best Junior: Joe Ward (Moate); Best U/21: Patrick Gallagher (Gleann); Best Intermediate: Rob Gorman (Bracken); Best Senior: Darren O’Neill (Paulstown); Best Boxer: Katie Taylor (Bray); Best Club: Geesala Best Coach Coaching staff at Geesala; Best Referee & Judge: Paul McMahon (Antrim); Hall of Fame: Michael Carruth (Drimnagh).